By: Ariana Wiggins (’19), Staff Writer
So y’all want the tools for a successful Last Day Of Classes celebration? Take it from a seasoned participant — every move must be calculated. Proper planning and some thoughtful consideration are necessary to make LDOC the experience you’ve been hearing about. Keep reading for all the essentials to make this year’s LDOC the lituation of your dreams.
DO…
…go to class. You should go to your classes on LDOC if and only if you have a final exam/presentation, need to attend a review session, or ran out of free absences. Daytime festivities are fun, but not worth sacrificing your GPA.
…call out of work. If you have a job and an account balance that allows it, call out of work as early as humanly possible. Unlike skipping class, your grades cannot be affected by this decision. And the more free time you have on LDOC, the better.
…seek daytime celebrations. They are essential to Black LDOC culture. An LDOC day party typically happens at Rams Quad from 3 to 6 p.m. Sometimes, other organizations throw day parties too, so look out for those as well.
…pop out with a daytime and a nighttime outfit. It is critical that you stunt at the pit between the hours of 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., and that you floss at the LDOC party later that night. LDOC is not just another day; it’s a holiday. Dress accordingly.
…have a quality camera at hand. Another essential component to the aforementioned popping out is the photos to prove it. There’s at least one person in your circle with a professional camera, an iPhone 7, or a portrait mode setting. Any of these options are sufficient.
DO NOT…
…have tasks on your to-do list. On a more practical note, get everything over with early. Finish your assignments, go to office hours, and log your Buckley Public Service Scholars hours by Thursday. If you have any of these things to worry about on LDOC, you’re doing it all wrong.
…spend the day alone. For one, it won’t be as enjoyable. But there’s also the possibility of your phone dying while you’re 30 minutes away from campus, you getting kidnapped, or some other catastrophe happening. This is not to speak it into existence, but you should always be prepared for the worst. Plus, who else is going to gas you and your dance moves?
…wear a hairstyle that won’t last. Twist-out by day, slick back by night. No matter how lit the party may be, there’s no denying that it will be as sweaty as it will be cramped. And I know your twist out is bomb, but it is not going to sustain in that obscene humidity.
…wear long sleeved anything. I don’t care if your legs are out, if the shirt is loose, if it’s -99 degrees celsius outside — none of that is going to matter when you find yourself in the heat of a party that is over capacity. If you have no other options, just make sure whatever you’re wearing isn’t grey because we will see your pit stains and will never be able to un-see them. Please, don’t curse us with the image of that in our memories.
…wait too long to go home. I get it. You don’t wanna miss anything, you don’t want LDOC to end, and you don’t want the fun to be over. But seriously. By the time you hear “Pony” by Ginuwine playing at the function, you need to hurry up and summon an Uber/Lyft home. There’s no sense in waiting until 2 a.m. to leave unless you desperately want to pay a surge fee.
Things you’ll need:
- Daytime outfit
- Nighttime outfit (SLEEVELESS!)
- Uber or Lyft app
- Quality camera
- Extra extra deodorant
- Lack of responsibilities
- Hair brush
- Friends to accompany you
And there you have it! A comprehensive guide to a smooth sailing, better-than-you-could’ve-ever-imagined Last Day of Classes. Keep this issue of Black Ink Magazine in your back pocket on LDOC to make sure you don’t miss a beat. But most importantly, spend the last day of the semester doing what makes you feel free from the wrath of Carolina academics. Good luck!
